Arill Nyquist

New York City Fire Department Firefighter Arill Nyquist passed away on January 6, 2024, due to illness related to his rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero, following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He was 54 years old and had served as an EMT for three years and as a firefighter for 17 years, assigned to Engine 243 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. 

Nyquist grew up in New Jersey and spent most of his summers in Norway, where his immediate family came from and where some currently reside. He was a devoted Lutheran and continued his religious journey by attending Hillcrest Academy High School in Minnesota. He had a passion for serving people and helping those in need. He grew up across the street from a fire department and always dreamed of becoming an FDNY member. He was inspired by his wife’s cousins, John and Marylou. Both were employed by the FDNY – John as a firefighter and Marylou as a civilian employee. He worked as an EMT for three years, and with the encouragement of John and Marylou, he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter. He was appointed to the FDNY in 2000 and retired due to illness in 2017. Nyquist took immense pride in being a firefighter. It wasn’t just his profession – it was a calling that he truly loved. He served with compassion, courage and selflessness, making a lasting impact on the lives of those he served and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. As his career progressed, he became a chauffeur, a role he embraced with great pride and dedication. He understood that driving the engine was a tremendous responsibility, and he worked tirelessly to master every aspect of it. He cherished the camaraderie among his crew, the meals they shared around the table, and the unbreakable bond that came from working side by side and facing fires together.  

Nyquist met his future wife, Ernestina, at a Christian camp in Pennsylvania. They were drawn together by one thing: they wanted to serve others and be servants of God. They were both EMT’s who went on to pursue their dreams – Arill became a firefighter and Ernestina became a nurse. They were there to support one another in their journeys and never lost sight of each other. They had two daughters, Hannah and Hailey, and they loved raising their girls together. He was a devoted husband and father, attending all his girls’ swim meets, taking them on camping trips every summer with other members of the firehouse, and watching them put the Angel on the top of the Christmas tree each year. All he ever wanted was to be with his family, and some of their best memories come from that. Hailey has chosen to follow in her father’s footsteps as a firefighter, carrying on the values he instilled in her: integrity, compassion, resilience and selfless service. Hannah is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling with a specialization in combat and trauma, driven by a passion to support those who serve. His life reminds us that a person’s legacy is measured not only by what they accomplish, but by how they make others feel, the lives they touch, and the example they leave behind. His courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to others will continue to inspire everyone who knew him. 

Firefighter Arill Nyquist is survived by his loving wife, Ernestina, his daughters, Hannah and Hailey, and many other cherished family members and friends. 

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage on the Nyquist family home through the Fallen First Responder Home Program.